Honda hopes to set the agenda at the 2011 Tokyo motor show with no fewer than seven concept cars – including its answer to the BMW i8, the new Small Sports EV Concept. Little is being said about the new compact sports car, but we know it will definitely be a full EV. These first design sketches reveal a stubby targa top with new Honda styling cues.

Audi Traffic Light Recognition system (pictured) could save you money
In the never ending quest to reduce fuel consumption – and, by definition, emissions – car makers are looking for every angle that might help. And Audi has come up with a traffic light recognition system they reckon could be good for a 15 per cent fuel saving. Sadly, Audi’s traffic light system doesn’t work by changing the lights to green as you get to them, but it is able to work out traffic light sequences and help you plan ahead.

McLaren today opened the doors to its new McLaren Production Centre which will build the MP4-12C and all future supercars from Ron Dennis's fledgling sports car brand. British prime minister David Cameron attended the event, hailing the economic benefits of manufacturing. He said the UK car industry was helping reshape the national economy from a service-based one enriching the minority to one which actually made things again - to the benefit of a wider slice of society.